Tennessee Senate Shelves Bill that Would Name Bible as State Book

The Tennessee State Senate tabled a proposal to make the Bible the official state book of Tennessee.

Instead, the state senate asked that the judiciary committee review the proposal at a later date, according to Christian Today. The bill had earlier been approved by the state House of Representatives.

The bill was approved 55-38 this week by the Tennessee House of Representatives. Republican Rep. Jerry Sexton originally sponsored it.

"My purpose for bringing this legislation is to memorialize the role the Bible has played on Tennessee history," he said.

Said Republican Rep. Andy Holt, who supported the bill: "There are some things that are worth standing up for. Markets, money and military are meaningless without morals. I think it's time for our body to make a stand."

Attorney General Herbert Slatery III had said the bill violated the separation of church and state.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, a Republican, also opposed the bill.

"The Bible is my official book but it need not be the official book of the state of Tennessee," Ramsey said in a statement.

"We don't need to put the Bible beside salamanders, tulip poplars and ‘Rocky Top’ in the Tennessee Blue Book to appreciate its importance to our state," he said.